Review FAIRYHOUSE 31ST JAN

The weather cut short the seven race card at Fairyhouse, with both the beginners chase and the bumper abandoned due to deteriorating ground conditions following persistent rain.

Dizzy's Dream was one of the better class horses on show during a wet and windy afternoon, and Noel Meade's charge came from a seemingly impossible position between the final two flights to justify 11/8 favouritism in the two miles maiden hurdle.

Paul Carberry's mount appeared soundly beaten in third approaching the last but he quickly reeled in both Tiger Cry and Boleyknowsbest on the run-in to win going away by four lengths.

'He is entered in both the novice hurdles at Cheltenham but would have to show a good bit more to go over there. All his runs have been on soft ground but he works really well on the all-weather gallop at home, and I'm hoping he'll be better on good ground. Whatever happens this season, he should be a nice chaser next term,' said Meade.

Meade and Carberry had to settle for the runner-up berth in the opening juvenile hurdle, with Rocket Ship being out-battled close home by Alicudi. Seamus Heffernan was seen to good effect when recording his fourth winner over hurdles here, and trainer Michael Grassick commented, 'He's still a bit on the weak side, and we'll probably give him a bit of a break now. He should make a chaser in time.'

There was a terrific three-horse finish to the two miles handicap chase, with The Moyne Machine just getting up in the final strides under Ian Power to beat Aura About Him and Castle Doret by a head and a short-head.

Lotomore Lad was prominent throughout in the two and a half miles handicap hurdle, and kept on strongly for Shay Barry to beat Osiris by three lengths.

Conditions had become virtually unraceable for the three miles handicap hurdle, and half of the 20 runners were pulled up. Move Over appeared to relish the mud, and drew clear in the straight under John Allen to score by 25 lengths.

Alan Magee